2010 primary filing begins

Perry makes bid official while Hutchison expected to Monday

AUSTIN - Republican Gov. Rick Perry filed for re-election Thursday to an unprecedented third term as candidates seeking office in 2010 started making their election plans official.

Perry, arriving at the Texas Republican Party headquarters early on the first day of the monthlong filing period, boasted about his record of limiting spending and creating jobs as the state's longest-serving governor. He pledged to keep fighting what he called "a federal government that's run amok."

Bashing Washington, D.C., has become Perry's theme as he faces a GOP primary challenge from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in what is becoming an increasingly bitter contest. Hutchison is in Washington for the federal health care debate this weekend and is expected to file her candidate paperwork on Monday.

"The great thing that I have to offer is I have a record, and that is what we're running on, our record. And I think it's a very enviable record," Perry said.

The Hutchison campaign disagreed. Hutchison campaign manager Terry Sullivan said Perry has not done what he promised and that he's now trying to hide from his record.

"For nine years, Texans hoped Rick Perry would do the right thing, and yet time and time again, he has betrayed their trust with decisions driven by cronyism and political self-interest," Sullivan said. He criticized Perry for issuing an executive order stating that school girls should get HPV vaccinations. (Lawmakers later overruled that order.) Sullivan also said Perry has forced university regents to resign because they didn't support his re-election campaign.

Perry didn't mention Hutchison specifically but railed against federal officials. He said he has overseen tax cuts and a comfortable Rainy Day savings fund in Texas.

"Unfortunately we are now dealing with a federal government that is barreling in the opposite philosophical direction," Perry said. "Like most Texans, I'm very frustrated with the national power structure that's throwing borrowed money at every problem and piling up debt."

Both Perry and Hutchison have already begun running television commercials, and their aides engage in a war of words almost daily.

Perry was joined Thursday by his wife, Anita Perry. Republican Party chairwoman Cathie Adams - who endorsed Perry before she recently became the party's leader - stood nearby and formally accepted his paperwork.

On the Democratic side, former ambassador Tom Schieffer recently withdrew from the race, and Houston Mayor Bill White announced he is considering running for governor. He's expected to announce his decision Friday. Meanwhile, wealthy Houston hair products magnate Farouk Shami is already airing TV ads in his Democratic bid for governor.

Office-seekers have until Jan. 4 to file for their March 2 party primaries.